Law Clerk - Juvenile Court Administrative Office

Title: Law Clerk – Juvenile Court

Starting Pay: $73,722.23

Departmental Mission Statement: It is the mission of the Juvenile Court to protect children from abuse and neglect and promote opportunities for children to reside in safe, stable, permanent family environments whenever possible, to strengthen families when their children are in need of services, to rehabilitate juveniles, to protect the public from delinquent and criminal activity while holding offenders accountable and addressing the harm suffered by the community and the victim, and to decide all cases fairly and impartially with dedication, integrity and professionalism.

Notes:

• This posting is for one law clerk position to start on September 1, 2024, or earlier. The position will end on August 31, 2025, with a possibility of renewal for an additional year.
• This posting will remain open until Monday, May 20, 2024, at 11:55pm; however, preference will be given to candidates that applied during the initial 14 day posting period.

This posting is for a law clerk position in Eastern Massachusetts.  All law clerks are assigned by the Manager of Legal Research Services, with the final approval of the Chief Justice, to rotations.  In Eastern Massachusetts, the law clerks may be assigned to any of the following eight divisions:  Bristol, Barnstable, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester.  The rotation system gives law clerks the opportunity to work with numerous judges and to gain a broader understanding of the work of the Juvenile court.

New law clerks are required to report to their assigned courthouses in-person for the first three months.  After that period, they may begin a hybrid work schedule at the discretion of the department head and pursuant to Trial Court Policy. 

Please read the following instructions carefully before starting the Trial Court online application process. Applications that do not comply with the following, may be screened out.

1. Resumes: Resumes must be converted to PDFs (Microsoft Word and text documents will not be accepted) and uploaded with the online application. Resumes should not include a list of references.

2. GPA: Unless your school does not provide a GPA, you must include your cumulative law school GPA on your resume.

3. Letters of Recommendation: Letters of recommendation are optional. Applicants who choose to submit a letter of recommendation must do so via the online application process. Therefore, before starting the online applications, applicants must have PDFs of any letters of recommendation ready to upload. Please do not submit letters of recommendation by other means, such as mail, email, fax, or hand-delivery.

4. Writing Sample: Applicants shall submit a writing sample in response to the question listed at the end of the job posting. Applicants must submit the writing sample via email to the following address: admin-jccallctr@jud.state.ma.us.  The sample must be submitted by email only (regular mail, fax or walk-ins will not be accepted) and needs to be sent by 11:55p.m. on the date that the applications start being reviewed (May 20, 2024).

5. Other Materials: Applicants selected for interviews should be prepared to submit additional materials if requested, including a statement of interest, an official law school transcript and an additional writing sample.

Position Summary: The law clerk is responsible for performing legal research and writing assignments to assist the judges of the Juvenile Court.  Law clerks work directly with the judges, and under the supervision of the Manager of Legal Research Services, Assistant Deputy Court Administrator, and the Chief Justice.  

A reliable car and the willingness to travel to courthouses throughout the Commonwealth are requirements of the position.  

A judicial clerkship in the Massachusetts Juvenile Court offers a unique, exciting, and rewarding environment in which to begin a legal career.  The Juvenile Court has general jurisdiction over delinquency, youthful offender, children requiring assistance, care and protection, guardianship, and adoption proceedings.     

Duties:

Assists judges in matters before the court by:  

Discussing legal issues with judges;  

Performing careful and accurate legal research and analysis, using both online and book resources;  

Clearly and concisely conveying results of research and analysis to judges, orally and in writing;  

Preparing well-written and error-free legal research memoranda, and drafting findings of fact, conclusions of law, rationales, judgments and memoranda of decision;  

Completing assignments in a timely manner and within deadlines established by judges;  

Performing additional legal research and analysis and further review and revision of written work products as appropriate;

and Attending hearings, portions of trials, and other courtroom proceedings, as needed.  

Minimum Requirements:

These are the minimum requirements necessary to apply for a position of Law Clerk:  

Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school or eligibility to sit for the Massachusetts bar exam, as of the start of the clerkship.

Excellent legal writing and communication skills.  

Excellent legal research and analytical skills, using both online and book resources.  

High professional and ethical standards.  

Access to a reliable car and the willingness and ability to travel to courthouses as assigned.  

Experience and knowledge in the use of personal computers, including word processing programs such as Microsoft Word and legal research services such as Lexis or Westlaw.  

Demonstrated ability to follow written and oral instructions.  

Demonstrated ability to manage, prioritize, and complete simultaneous assignments from various judges.  

Demonstrated ability to work well independently while maintaining productivity and demonstrating good judgment.  

Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and otherwise complete assignments in a timely manner.  

Demonstrated ability to work well with others in a professional setting, including judges, managers, court staff, and other law clerks.  

Genuine commitment to serving the full term of the clerkship.                          

Additional preferred qualifications include:            

Current legal practice or intent to practice law in Massachusetts.  

Substantial legal research and writing experience, including prior experience as a judicial intern for a Juvenile Court judge.  

Courses in juvenile law, research assistant positions, prior work experience in the areas of juvenile law and clinical placements.  

Familiarity with legal research resources beyond Westlaw and Lexis.  

Demonstrated commitment to government or public service.  

The Juvenile Court invites well-rounded and distinguished recent law school graduates and practicing attorneys to apply for the clerkship positions.

Solid academic credentials are important, however, there are no rigid requirements regarding class rank or standing.  

All law clerks must reside in Massachusetts for the duration of the law clerk term.

Writing Sample:

INSTRUCTIONS:  Please format your response as a legal memorandum addressed to Judge Moore.  The memo cannot be longer than 4 pages, double spaced, in Times New Roman size 12 font. 

Sarah Caruso and Luisa Colon are neighbors. They attended the same high school and were friends until Sarah accused Luisa of stealing her boyfriend, Alex Russo.  According to Luisa, Sarah brutally attacked her with a softball bat and has made her life a “living hell.”  Luisa has lingering injuries and she and her father want Sarah punished for what she did.

Sarah was charged via a delinquency complaint in the Middlesex County Division of the Juvenile Court, alleging that she committed an assault and battery with a dangerous weapon upon Luisa Colon pursuant to G. L. c. 265, § 15A.  The complaint alleges that seventeen-year-old Sarah waited in an alley between two buildings for Luisa to walk by on her way home from school.  Sarah then allegedly pulled Luisa into the alley and began striking her repeatedly with a softball bat.  Police officers arrived on the scene and arrested Sarah, whom they were familiar with from prior encounters. 

Sarah has been involved with the Juvenile Court since she was fifteen years old.  She was charged with assault and battery following a street brawl that she allegedly initiated.  Sarah completed a diversion program following that charge.  However, while the current delinquency case was pending, Sarah returned to court when her mother filed a Child Requiring Assistance petition when she began running away from home and not obeying home rules.  Sarah’s mother reports being afraid of her because Sarah has a terrible temper and has nearly struck her several times.  Having been found to be a Child Requiring Assistance, a Juvenile Court judge ordered Sarah to attend therapeutic counseling and an anger management program for teens.  Sarah just started attending these programs after being on a waiting list.

Although Sarah initially chose to proceed with a jury trial on the assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charge, she changed her mind after three continuances were allowed in her case.  One continuance was a result of the court’s scheduling, one was requested by the Commonwealth, and the third continuance was requested by Sarah’s defense counsel.  In consultation with her attorney, Sarah opted for a bench trial, so that she could be tried in advance of her eighteenth birthday. 

Judge Moore has asked you to write a memorandum for her in preparation of trial.  The bench trial is scheduled for six weeks prior to Sarah’s eighteenth birthday.  Judge Moore anticipates that if she finds Sarah to be a delinquent child, the Commonwealth will request the sentencing hearing be continued until after Sarah’s eighteenth birthday, and that the defense will oppose, asking for immediate sentencing.  What must the judge consider when deciding such a request?